Managed.IT - issue 60

5 www.managedITmag.co.uk INNOVATIONS Print on demand OKI Europe is helping businesses react to constantly changing coronavirus rules and recommendations with the launch of The Design Hub, powered by Shoppa. Its library of pre-created templates, imagery and content enables customers to create and print professional signage and communications on-demand, in-house. Templates can be customised with text, images and other design elements, without the need for professional design skills, using simple ‘drag and drop’ functionality. In addition to pre-installed templates for signage, banners, labels, stickers, price tags, wrist bands etc., users can import or create custom templates. Advanced features include the ability to personalise items through variable data printing and automatically generate QR codes to promote customer engagement through low-touch communications. OKI is offering six month subscriptions to The Design Hub with purchases of eligible OKI colour printers and/or a set of OKI Original CYMK toners. www.oki.com/eu Ideas that stick The Smart Sticky Note Printer is one of the first concepts available for pre-order through the Day 1 Editions Build It programme – Amazon’s answer to crowdfunding sites like kickstarter. Designed to work with Alexa, the printer’s voice-to-print technology makes it easy to print shopping lists, to-do lists, reminders or fun items like puzzles. Because it uses thermal paper, there is no need for ink or toner. www.amazon.com/ smartstickynoteprin ter ID cards on demand Following a 45% increase in demand for in-house ID card printing, Digital ID has launched a card printer bundle for organisations that need a quick turnaround due to coronavirus. The bundle gives businesses everything they need to produce a full colour plastic ID card in just 23 seconds (using images from a PC or smartphone), including an EasyBadge 2.0 printer, colour ribbon, biodegradable plastic cards, software and mobile app. For extra security, users can add a customisable anti-counterfeit SmartMark overlay (offered as standard) or an optional ribbon that adds a UV layer to the card. For every printer ribbon sold, Digital ID will plant a tree with www. onetreeplanted.org. https://www.digitalid.co.uk/ Smarter working Lenovo is introducing new smart glasses for use with the ThinkReality eco-system of hardware and software solutions. ThinkReality A3 PC Edition smart glasses connected to a PC or mobile workstation provide office workers with up to five virtual displays for more productive, private and immersive experiences in industries like finance, architecture and engineering, as well as extra screen space for remote and mobile workers. ThinkReality A3 Industrial Edition glasses connected to select Motorola smartphones enable retail, hospitality and industrial customers to create and deploy mixed reality applications for remote assistance, guided workflows and 3D visualisation. www.lenovo.com Meeting pods Workspace interiors group Zentura is addressing the growing requirement for video-based collaboration with the launch of a new family of video, meeting and collaboration pods. The Zenconnect range includes four models – the Pitch Pod (for single users), Meet Pod, Present Pod and the Teleport Pod for teleportation to a remote XR Smartstage. All are de-mountable and boast high-quality audio and video, acoustics, lighting and screens. Custom options are available. https://www.zenturaworkspace. co.uk/zenconnect-pods Label printers as a service In a further development of its labelling range, Brother UK has launched a hardware-as-a-service platform that enables resellers to offer its labellers on a predictable monthly subscription with no large upfront cost. The Managed Label Service (MLS) simplifies the creation of custom quotes that spread the cost of Brother label printers, third party hardware, software, servicing and supplies over a monthly payment plan. www.brother.co.uk/business- solutions/managed-label-serv ices OKI: The Design Hub Issue 60 2021